Thank You

Last weekend we attended our granddaughter’s 7^th grade class play, a surprisingly well-done version of Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella.  Then Sunday morning we did Mass at St. John Vianney.  In spite of all the distractions…people coming in late and leaving early, the little children taking the parents to the restroom at the most inappropriate time and the general commotion of a large church…Father Troy’s sermon had a pointed question that I just could not get out of my head.  He asked “What if you had everything you thanked God for last night?  What would you have?  What did you thank God for last night”?  My answer haunted me…for I had not thanked God for anything last night…absolutely nothing…I would have absolutely nothing. 

In my defense, I am a morning person that cannot do much after the sun goes down.  My brain turns off and I am unconscious before my head hits the pillow.  So in an effort to do better I started a list…a thank you list.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank you for my soft warm bed,

And a pillow to lay my head.

Thank you for a roof wide spread

So the rain it may shed.

Thank you for each night and day.

Thank you for the words to pray.

Thank you for the food to eat.

Thank you for that tasty treat.

Thank you for blue skies above

For those are the days I love.

Thank you for my good health

Worth so much more that riches or wealth.

Thank you for this land of plenty

‘Tis not the case for so many.

This land can be a barren waste

For all of us who make haste.

Thank you for a wife so kind

She…I know you did find.

Thank you for your saving deed

This is what I really need.

I thank you for everything.

There is not much I can bring

To the table you have set

This is my big regret.

Thank you for this very day.

Help me live my life your way.

For this one thing I do pray

So that I may not stray.

For all YOU give it seems not fair

When all I have is a little prayer.

Thank you Lord for my every breath

I owe it all to your death.

Amen.